Alienoid: Return To The Future
Alienoid 2: Return To The Future (2024)
If you didn’t get enough WuShu Sci-Fi Western the first time round, Alienoid: Return To The Future continues the madness. The wackiness of the first movie gets turned on its head as every character is displaced and has to survive in a completely different time, place, or role. Just as you’ve finally worked everything out, it changes again… and more insanity ensues.
While I think the first movie is a better sci-fi, this movie is a better action flick (and not just because of the train set piece, but they do always win me over) I loved all the different settings and weapons, and what they meant to the story. The individual arcs of the blind man and customs officers were a lot of fun too. The latter could have easily derailed the film as she had her own story for like ten minutes in the middle, but instead I enjoyed every second of it and couldn’t wait to spend my time with the character.
With so much revealed there were beats I felt like I was waiting for as well, with Thunder seeing a grown up Ean being top of the list, and Ean seeing her friend from her childhood again. The movie like the first had heart, even if it was surrounded by so much bombastic going ons and aliens flying all over the place.
The two sorcerers in the future was comedy gold, and again could have easily been annoying, but both were so committed to the role and only added to their charm from the first film.
Once again the special effects were great, the action sequences enjoyable, and the characters a delight. Seeing the girl who Shoots Thunder trying to hide her identity with a ridiculous moustache early on was one of my favourite scenes, along with left paw and right paw constantly following her around. The film just felt charming, while also being crazy at all times.
Alienoid probably isn’t for everyone as it really is nuts, but as a fan of all the genres it’s inspired by the two films are definitely for me. I think the first movie slightly edges the second, but they should probably be watched together, even if they’d feel like you’ve overdosed on sugar by the end of them.
The second film has plenty of chaos, great effects, action, humour and Kim Tai-Ri dressed liked Iron Man, and who the hell doesn’t want that?
